NAME DROP.
Turns out, "Banner"
wasn't just a namesake.
Before the books and baguettes, there was the building— and three guys tossing around names. John Evans, Richard Ridgeway, and B. Phillips wanted something aspirational.
Something that felt like a gold star but with a little more charm. "Banner" came up, like a banner year. A mark of excellence. A quiet promise to do things well and with care. It stuck. "Banner Hall sounded like a place people would remember," John said.
And decades later, they still do.
No. 01
the
Purpose
Ask anyone who’s grown up in Jackson—they’ve got a Banner Hall story. Spotting a favorite author at Lemuria. Renting a tux at Tuxes Too. Saying yes to the dress at The Bridal Path. Long lunches, weekend breakfasts, and the kind of moments that stick.
What’s kept it alive? Not just the shops, but the sense of community. Banner Hall was built to feel local—because it is. And with that comes a nostalgia we never could’ve scripted.
No. 02
the
heart
Banner Hall isn’t just owned—it’s looked after. Since the ’90s, John Evans of Lemuria Books, Jeff Good of Broad Street, and Doug Douglass of Tuxes Too have shared both the deed and the day-to-day, each keeping shop under the same roof. For more than 30 years, they’ve kept this place steady, soulful, and unmistakably local—fueled by a love for Jackson and the people who walk through the door.
That kind of skin in the game is rare. Rarer still when it comes wrapped in books, fresh bread, and a perfectly pressed tux.
No. 03
the
vision
From the beginning, Banner Hall was built for locals—by locals. The vision was simple: create a place where Jackson could gather, do business, linger over lunch, and find something worth coming back for. Decades later, not much has changed. The atrium hums with lunch dates and last-minute meetings, college kids cramming like their grade depends on it, book clubs swapping dog-eared favorites, and the occasional soirée that reminds you this place cleans up nicely. It’s still familiar, a little timeless, and always like home—just with better snacks.
how it all began.
THE ORIGIN
STORY
“Banner Hall was always about more than just a space. It was about creating a place where people could feel at home, where something special was happening. We wanted it to matter.”
If you’ve ever walked into Banner Hall and felt like you’d been transported to another city—New York, Seattle, maybe even a little San Francisco—you’re not alone. But if you’re from Jackson, it’s not the city that feels different. It’s that Banner Hall has always felt like home. And like any great home, it was built with intention.
Before it was an icon, Banner Hall was an idea, one that started back in 1985, with a vision for a creative, community-focused space.
“Banner Hall felt like a place people would remember,” John Evans said. “We hoped it would represent doing things with care, intention, and the highest standard.”
A group of entrepreneurs (including B. Phillips and Richard Ridgeway) saw an opportunity to pull people across the interstate from Highland Village. But the one who truly gave it shape? John Evans of Lemuria Books.
By then, John had already made his mark at Highland Village and The Quarter. Moving Lemuria to Banner Hall was bolder—and riskier. The building’s now-famous slope came from a design requirement for high ceilings. That quirk? Pure charm.
It wasn’t all easy. There were financial hiccups, partnerships that came and went, and anchor tenants that didn’t quite stick. But John stayed. On April Fools’ Day 1988, Lemuria opened its doors with music, drinks, and costumes. It wasn’t a prank—it was a declaration: Banner Hall is here, and it’s going to matter.
And it has. Decades later, it still does.
john evans
lemuria
what I'm known for
local flavor
weekend PLANS
lemuria storytime
KNOWN TO SPLURGE ON
natural wine
MY FAVORITE PLACE TO relax
2nd floor atrium
ALWAYS ORDER ME An
almond croissant
ENTIRELY UNDERRATED
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